The GCFC's four-day trip to Melbourne culminated with a 3-11 (29) to 4-5 (29) draw in wet and heavy conditions at the home of football in the curtain-raiser to the twilight Melbourne v Adelaide clash.
Daniel Ramage was the Coast's best and generated fantastic run off the half-back line in a game with four 20-minute quarters. Skipper Marc Lock finished with one goal and was also influential. Jack Stanlake and Jack Stanley were the other Coast goalkickers. Despite the draw, the trip was an Anzac experience for the playing group they are unlikely to forget.
At the pushing of GCFC coach Guy McKenna, the Coasters headed to Melbourne last Thursday, two days earlier than the club would usually travel south for a Sunday match. He set the tone for the trip when he handed out to each of the players a letter that was sent from a young Australian soldier to his mother from Gallipoli in 1915.
On the trip, the club visited the Shrine of Remembrance for an emotional service in tribute to our fallen heroes. McKenna said it was a great opportunity to teach his players about the spirit of the Anzacs. We wanted the boys to experience that (the Anzac Day education) and to experience the MCG, said McKenna.
Given the Queensland Light Horse Mounted Infantry were the first wave to land on Gallipoli, I think it was important they learned that and how important the Queenslanders are to Anzac Day
Also as part of the trip, the Coast visited the Collingwood Football Club last Friday to watch the Magpies train before being addressed by coach Mick Malthouse. But the highlight was attending the traditional Collingwood-Essendon Anzac Day blockbuster at the MCG.
In front of 85,000 people on Saturday, the GCFC teenagers saw the Bombers score a thrilling five-point win over the Pies. It would have been easy at that moment for the playing group to forget they were in town to play a game of football. The boys seemed ready for battle yesterday, but found the going tough against a plucky Tasmanian side.
Asked how he would sum up the Coast's performance, McKenna said:Probably lacklustre. We kicked 3-11 -- that is 14 shots to nine, so we had enough of the ball to win the game. But poor kicking at goal is poor football. It is a unique ground and I am sure the boys learned a lot from the experience.
The team is back on the road this week, tackling the Calder Cannons in Melbourne on Sunday. By Nick Smart, Courtesy of Gold Coast Bulletin
